Former post's fitness center, sports bubble up for sale

Nov. 18, 2013 - 09:59AM
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OCEANPORT — Fort Monmouth is having a fitness sale, but this isn’t the kind of offer for buyers to get a discounted membership to work on their six-pack abs.

What’s for sale is the fitness center on the former Army base, complete with a 25-yard pool, basketball courts with hardwood floors, racquetball courts and weight rooms with fitness machines. The Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority board voted Wednesday to accept offers on the structure and 7.5 acres. The fitness center is a 32,250-square-foot brick facility built in 1952, and the fort’s redevelopment plan envisions it continuing to be used as a fitness center.

A potential buyer would be given an option to purchase the sports bubble from the former West Point Prep school, but that structure will have to be moved from the base’s Eatontown side.

“We envision the option of selling the sports bubble and the buyer relocating it to the 7.75-acre fitness center site,” said Bruce Steadman, FMERA executive director.

But other buyers could be interested in purchasing and moving the sports bubble off the base, said board member Robert Lucky. “Now, it’s an option, but there might be other parties interested in purchasing the sports bubble separately,” Lucky said. “Both Monmouth University and Brookdale (Community College) are interested in the sports bubble.”

The fitness center is in good enough condition that a buyer could move right in, said Rick Harrison, FMERA facilities director.